House Tries to Cram in Energy Bill Vote Before Summer Recess

A House vote on an energy bill heavily backed by Nancy Pelosi was delayed today after an unrelated protracted argument over a food safety bill.

The energy bill would reduce tax credits to oil companies and use the money -- about $16 billion-- for clean-energy incentives. Pelosi has already made some compromises and is leaving fuel-economy standards out of it to gain more support. Reuters says the White House still promises to veto it.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

The House and Senate bills share the goal of improving energy efficiency while weaning the nation off of its dependence on fossil fuels. With gasoline prices high and voter concerns growing about the nation's energy security, especially about the country's reliance on oil produced in the Middle East, the energy bill has become a defining issue for Democrats.

The Senate bill, which drew bipartisan support in
June, is more aggressive in addressing those concerns. The measure would expand the availability of cleaner-burning biofuels, such as corn-based ethanol, more than tripling the amount of those products in the nation's fuel supply. The Senate bill would also raise fuel-economy standards for cars and light trucks to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, a more than 30% increase above current law.

The vote could come tomorrow or as late as Monday, when Congress is scheduled to take a month-long hiatus.

Click here for a handy-dandy chart summarizing some of the Democratic candidates' energy policies, and vote for your favorite.